Cresskill police officer to be disciplined for in-uniform gag

By DEENA YELLIN

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

CRESSKILL — The Police Department’s Internal Affairs staff has concluded an investigation of an officer photographed pretending to smoke what was a fake marijuana joint at a concert several years ago. The investigation noted improprieties, but found nothing illegal.

Detective Lt. Joseph Trumbetti did not show good judgment and will be punished but will remain on the force, Police Chief Edward Wrixon said of the incident. The chief declined to detail the disciplining.

The photograph, which has showed up on the Internet, is of Trumbetti in uniform at the Battle of the Bands Concert at the borough’s recreation center, smiling as someone lights a rolled up paper in his mouth that mimics a joint for pot. Wrixon said it was taken five years ago.

“There was no traces of drugs — there was nothing illegal,” said Wrixon, adding that everyone sitting around Trumbetti knew he was pretending as a joke. But, the chief added, “He shouldn’t have been doing that in uniform.”

Trumbetti is in charge of firearms and performs administrative duties, said Wrixon.

Reached by phone, Trumbetti declined comment.

The photograph was supplied to police by Gregory Levitzki of Dumont, whose son Brad Levitzki was terminated in June from the Cresskill Police Department after a hearing officer found him guilty of six charges of misconduct on duty. Brad Levitzki’s attorney is currently appealing the decision in New Jersey Superior Court.

“I don’t know why he waited so long to bring it to my attention,” said Wrixon about Levitzki. “I find that suspect.”

Greg Levitzki, who was reached by phone and who did not comment for this story, has said he found the photo a year ago.

Al Wunch, the attorney representing Brad Levitszki, said that the photo had been hanging in the police department locker room and that there had been a double standard when it came to his client.

“The hearing officer made a big deal about a photograph that Brad had put on a computer screen in the police station,” he said. “The charge against Brad was that this was a pornographic photograph. But I said that there’s all these types of photos that are far worse throughout the department and nobody makes a big deal about them. The Trumbetti one was just one of them.”

Among the other counts against Levitzki is that he took a knife to cut Dumont Fire emblems from a shirt worn by a Cresskill firefighter and etched a racial slur in the dirt on a paramedic’s car.

Wrixon said that the matter of the Trumbetti photo is history at this point.

“He participated in the investigation. We interviewed everyone who was present at the time. It’s been investigated and adjudicated,” the chief said.

Cresskill police officer to be disciplined for in-uniform gag

By DEENA YELLIN

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

CRESSKILL — The Police Department’s Internal Affairs staff has concluded an investigation of an officer photographed pretending to smoke what was a fake marijuana joint at a concert several years ago. The investigation noted improprieties, but found nothing illegal.

Detective Lt. Joseph Trumbetti did not show good judgment and will be punished but will remain on the force, Police Chief Edward Wrixon said of the incident. The chief declined to detail the disciplining.

The photograph, which has showed up on the Internet, is of Trumbetti in uniform at the Battle of the Bands Concert at the borough’s recreation center, smiling as someone lights a rolled up paper in his mouth that mimics a joint for pot. Wrixon said it was taken five years ago.

“There was no traces of drugs — there was nothing illegal,” said Wrixon, adding that everyone sitting around Trumbetti knew he was pretending as a joke. But, the chief added, “He shouldn’t have been doing that in uniform.”

Trumbetti is in charge of firearms and performs administrative duties, said Wrixon.

Reached by phone, Trumbetti declined comment.

The photograph was supplied to police by Gregory Levitzki of Dumont, whose son Brad Levitzki was terminated in June from the Cresskill Police Department after a hearing officer found him guilty of six charges of misconduct on duty. Brad Levitzki’s attorney is currently appealing the decision in New Jersey Superior Court.

“I don’t know why he waited so long to bring it to my attention,” said Wrixon about Levitzki. “I find that suspect.”

Greg Levitzki, who was reached by phone and who did not comment for this story, has said he found the photo a year ago.

Al Wunch, the attorney representing Brad Levitszki, said that the photo had been hanging in the police department locker room and that there had been a double standard when it came to his client.

“The hearing officer made a big deal about a photograph that Brad had put on a computer screen in the police station,” he said. “The charge against Brad was that this was a pornographic photograph. But I said that there’s all these types of photos that are far worse throughout the department and nobody makes a big deal about them. The Trumbetti one was just one of them.”

Among the other counts against Levitzki is that he took a knife to cut Dumont Fire emblems from a shirt worn by a Cresskill firefighter and etched a racial slur in the dirt on a paramedic’s car.

Wrixon said that the matter of the Trumbetti photo is history at this point.

“He participated in the investigation. We interviewed everyone who was present at the time. It’s been investigated and adjudicated,” the chief said.